Method of and system for stencil printing and ink container

ABSTRACT

In a stencil printing method where a plurality of kinds of ink containers filled with ink of different colors are installed in a system body of a stencil printer and the ink in the ink container is supplied to a printing drum to carry out stencil printing, to easily set color information of the printing drum for determining whether the color information of the ink container conforms to the printing drum without necessity of operator&#39;s input. The color information stored in the storage means ( 9 ) of the ink container ( 10 ) installed in the system body ( 2 ) of the stencil printer is read out to a color information setting means ( 65 ), and at the same time, the color information setting means ( 65 ) confirms whether the color information has been already stored in the storage means ( 8 ) of the printing drum ( 31 ). When the color information has not been yet stored in the storage means ( 8 ) of the printing drum ( 31 ), the color information read out form the storage means ( 9 ) of the ink container ( 10 ) is stored in the storage means ( 8 ) of the printing drum ( 31 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method of and a system for stencil printingand an ink container where a plurality of kinds of ink containers filledwith ink of different colors are installed in a system body of a stencilprinter and the ink in the ink container is supplied to a printing drumto carry out stencil printing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There have been used a removable ink container in a stencil printer forthe reason of easiness in handling or the like. The above-mentioned inkcontainers are generally installed in the system body to supply ink andthen are removed when the ink is exhausted to be discarded or to berecycled. When a new expendable is mounted on the stencil printerthereafter, it becomes possible to continuously make print.

In the stencil printer using such an ink container, conventionally, anyink container has been able to be installed independently of the colorof the ink in the ink container. Accordingly, when an ink containerfilled with ink different in color from the preceding ink is installedin the stencil printer, there has arisen a problem that the inkremaining in the printing drum mixes with the ink of a different color.In order to avoid such a problem, in Japanese Unexamined Utility ModelPublication No. 9 (1997)-100, there has been proposed a stencil printerwhere a rib which differs in shape by the color of the ink in the inkcontainer is provided on the ink container, and an alarm is given whenthe rib on the newly installed ink container differs in shape from thaton the preceding ink container stored in the stencil printer. Further,in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-15916, there has beenproposed a stencil printer where a rib which differs in location by thecolor of the ink in the ink container is provided on the ink container,the location of the rib on the ink container is detected by a switch onthe stencil printer to determine whether the ink container is compatiblein color with the printing drum in which it is installed, and when theink container is incompatible in color with the printing drum, supply ofink to the printing drum is inhibited. Further, in Japanese UnexaminedPatent Publication No. 2000-15916, in order to determine whether such anink container is usable, there is proposed a method where a memory isprovided on the printing drum, locations of the ribs on the usable inkcontainers are stored in the memory, and the location of the ribdetected by the switch on the stencil printer is compared with thestored locations of the ribs. Further, as a method of storing locationinformation on the location of the rib on the ink container in thememory provided on the printing drum, in Japanese Unexamined PatentPublication No. 2001-191630, there is proposed a method where theoperator directly inputs the location information in the stencil printerin which the printing drum is installed.

However, when a rib the shape or the location of which differs by thecolor of ink therein is provided on the ink container as in JapaneseUnexamined Utility Model Publication No. 9 (1997)-100 or JapaneseUnexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-15916, to make ribs the shape orthe location of which corresponds to the colors of ink becomes difficultand leads to increase in the cost as the number of kinds of colors ofthe ink increases. To avoid this problem, in Japanese Unexamined PatentPublication No. 2001-18507, there is proposed a method where a memory isprovided on the ink container, color information on the color of ink inthe ink container is stored in the memory and the color informationstored in the memory is read out by the stencil printer to compare withcolor information of the printing drum which has been set in advance todetermine whether the ink container is usable. However, also in thismethod, it is necessary to set in advance the color information in thestencil printer. When the operator sets the color information in thestencil printer as in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.2001-191630, there arises a problem that input takes a lot of labor andbecomes troublesome since the color information is a long characterstring depending on the code representing the color information.

In view of the foregoing observations and description, the primaryobject of the present invention is to provide a method of and a systemfor stencil printing and an ink container where, in methods of andsystems for stencil printing and ink containers where a plurality ofkinds of ink containers filled with ink of different colors areinstalled in a system body of a stencil printer and the ink in the inkcontainer is supplied to a printing drum to carry out stencil printing,the color information can be easily set without necessity of theoperator's direct input described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a stencilprinting method comprising, in a method where an ink container which isfilled with ink of one of a plurality of kinds of colors and providedwith a storage means in which color information on the ink in the inkcontainer is stored, and a printing drum provided with a storage meansin which predetermined information is stored are installed in a body ofa stencil printer, and the ink in the ink container is supplied to theprinting drum to carry out stencil printing, the steps of, when an inkcontainer and/or a printing drum is installed, reading out the colorinformation stored in the storage means of the ink container and storingthe color information in the storage means of the printing drum.

The “color information” may be any so long as it represents the kind ofthe color of the ink in the ink container. For example, the “colorinformation” may be information representing the kind of the color ofthe ink by a code or by values of the coordinates of a LAB colorspecification system or a XYZ color specification system.

In the stencil printing method, it is possible to confirm whether thecolor information has been already stored in the storage means of theprinting drum and then to subsequently store the color information readout from the storage means of the ink container in the storage means ofthe printing drum when it is confirmed that no color information hasbeen yet stored in the storage means of the printing drum.

Further, it is possible to give an alarm when it is confirmed that colorinformation has been already stored in the storage means of the printingdrum and the stored color information differs from that read out fromthe ink container.

The “alarm” may be given in any manner so long as the operator isinformed of that the color information stored in the storage means ofthe printing drum differs from that read out from the ink container. Forexample, the alarm may be given by displaying a message, lighting a lampand/or sounding a warning sound.

Further, it is possible to store the color information read out from thestorage means of the ink container in the storage means of the printingdrum upon input of a signal which instructs to store the colorinformation read out from the storage means of the ink container in thestorage means of the printing drum when it is confirmed that colorinformation has been already stored in the storage means of the printingdrum and the stored color information differs from that read out fromthe ink container.

Further, it is possible to automatically start supplying ink to theprinting drum after the color information stored in the storage means ofthe ink container is stored in the storage means of the printing drum.

Further, it is possible to make ink exhaustion, where the printing drumis rotated without supply of ink to the printing drum, when it isconfirmed that color information has been already stored in the storagemeans of the printing drum and the stored color information differs fromthat read out from the ink container.

The “ink exhaustion” refers to an action of discharging ink remaining inthe printing drum by rotating the printing drum without supply of ink tothe printing drum, but any other actions may be combined with the actionof rotating the printing drum without supply of ink to the printingdrum.

Further, it is possible to store the color information read out from thestorage means of the ink container in the storage means of the printingdrum and to automatically start supplying ink to the printing drumthereafter after the ink exhaustion is finished.

Further, it is possible to store the color information read out from thestorage means of the ink container in the storage means of the printingdrum when it is detected that no ink exists in the printing drum and itis confirmed that no color information has been yet stored in thestorage means of the printing drum.

Further, it is possible to give an abnormality alarm when it is detectedthat ink exists in the printing drum and it is confirmed that no colorinformation has been yet stored in the storage means of the printingdrum.

The “abnormality alarm” may be given in any manner so long as theoperator is informed of that ink exists in the printing drum and it isconfirmed that no color information has been yet stored in the storagemeans of the printing drum. For example, the abnormality alarm may begiven by displaying a message, lighting a lamp and/or sounding a warningsound.

In accordance with the present invention, there is further provided astencil printing system comprising, in a system where an ink containerwhich is filled with ink of one of a plurality of kinds of colors andprovided with a storage means in which color information on the ink inthe ink container is stored, and a printing drum provided with a storagemeans in which predetermined information is stored are installed in abody of a stencil printer, and the ink in the ink container is suppliedto the printing drum to carry out stencil printing, a color informationsetting means which, when an ink container and/or a printing drum isinstalled, reads out the color information stored in the storage meansof the ink container and stores the color information in the storagemeans of the printing drum.

In the stencil printing system, it is possible to cause the colorinformation setting means to confirm whether the color information hasbeen already stored in the storage means of the printing drum and tostore the color information read out from the storage means of the inkcontainer in the storage means of the printing drum when it is confirmedby the color information setting means that no color information hasbeen yet stored in the storage means of the printing drum.

Further, the stencil printing system may be provided with an alarm meanswhich gives an alarm when it is confirmed by the color informationsetting means that color information has been already stored in thestorage means of the printing drum and the stored color informationdiffers from that read out from the ink container.

Further, the stencil printing system may be provided with a reset signalinput means which inputs a signal instructing whether the colorinformation read out from the storage means of the ink container is tobe stored in the storage means of the printing drum when it is confirmedthat color information has been already stored in the storage means ofthe printing drum and the stored color information differs from thatread out from the ink container. In this case, the color informationsetting means stores the color information read out from the storagemeans of the ink container in the storage means of the printing drumupon input of a signal which instructs to store the color informationread out from the storage means of the ink container in the storagemeans of the printing drum by the reset signal input means.

The “reset signal input means” may be any so long as it can input theabove signal and, for instance, may be a button or a touch panelprovided on the stencil printer.

Further, the stencil printing system may be provided with an ink supplycontrol means which outputs an ink supply start signal to automaticallystart supplying ink to the printing drum after the color informationstored in the storage means of the ink container is stored in thestorage means of the printing drum by the color information settingmeans.

Further, the stencil printing system may be provided with an inkexhaustion control means which outputs an ink exhaustion control signalto make ink exhaustion, where the printing drum is rotated withoutsupply of ink to the printing drum, when it is confirmed that colorinformation has been already stored in the storage means of the printingdrum and the stored color information differs from that read out fromthe ink container.

Further, it is possible to make the color information setting meansstore the color information read out from the storage means of the inkcontainer in the storage means of the printing drum after the inkexhaustion is finished and the stencil printing system may be providedwith an ink supply control system which automatically starts supplyingink to the printing drum after the color information read out from thestorage means of the ink container is stored in the storage means of theprinting drum by the color information setting means.

Further, the stencil printing system may be provided with an inkdetecting means which detects whether there is ink in the printing drum.In this case, the color information setting means stores the colorinformation read out from the storage means of the ink container in thestorage means of the printing drum when it is detected that no inkexists in the printing drum by the ink detecting means and it isconfirmed that no color information has been yet stored in the storagemeans of the printing drum by the color information setting means.

Further, the stencil printing system may be provided with an inkdetecting means which detects whether there is ink in the printing drum.In this case, the stencil printing system may be provided with anabnormality alarm means which gives an abnormality alarm when it isdetected that ink exists in the printing drum by the ink detecting mansand it is confirmed that no color information has been yet stored in thestorage means of the printing drum by the color information settingmeans.

In accordance with the present invention, there is further provided anink container which is used for carrying out the above stencil printingmethod and comprises storage means which stores color information on inkin the ink container.

In the method of and the system for stencil printing and the inkcontainer of the present invention, since the color information storedin the storage means of the ink container is read out and the colorinformation is stored in the storage means of the printing drum, thecolor information can be easily set in the storage means of the printingdrum without necessity of the operator's direct input. Further, even ifthe operator does not recognize the color information on the inkcontainer, the color information can be set. For example, by inhibitingthe stencil printing when an ink container whose color informationdiffers from the color information thus set in the storage means of theprinting drum is installed, mixing of ink of different colors in theprinting drum can be avoided. Further, more number of the kinds of colorinformation can be set as compared with the case where the colorinformation is set, for instance, by the shape of the rib provided onthe ink container, a slight difference in color can be known, and it ispossible to avoid the case where the operator installs and uses a wrongink container which is similar to the correct ink container in color byaccident.

Further, in the method of and the system for stencil printing and theink container, when whether the color information has been alreadystored in the storage means of the printing drum is confirmed and thenthe color information read out from the storage means of the inkcontainer in the storage means of the printing drum is subsequentlystored when it is confirmed that no color information has been yetstored in the storage means of the printing drum, the color informationwhich has been already set in the storage means of the printing drum canbe avoided from being overwritten.

Further, when an alarm is given in the case where it is confirmed thatcolor information has been already stored in the storage means of theprinting drum and the stored color information differs from that readout from the ink container, the operator can be clearly informed of thefact that an ink container whose color information differs from thecolor information set in the storage means of the printing drum isinstalled.

Further, when the color information read out from the storage means ofthe ink container is stored in the storage means of the printing drumupon input of a signal which instructs to store the color informationread out from the storage means of the ink container in the storagemeans of the printing drum when it is confirmed that color informationhas been already stored in the storage means of the printing drum andthe stored color information differs from that read out from the inkcontainer, the color information which has been already set in thestorage means of the printing drum can be avoided from being overwrittenby accident and at the same time, the color information set in thestorage means of the printing drum can be changed at will of theoperator.

Further, when supplying ink to the printing drum is automaticallystarted after the color information stored in the storage means of theink container is stored in the storage means of the printing drum, thelabor of the operator to input a signal which instructs to startsupplying ink to the printing drum can be saved.

Further, when ink exhaustion, where the printing drum is rotated withoutsupply of ink to the printing drum, is made un the case where it isconfirmed that color information has been already stored in the storagemeans of the printing drum and the stored color information differs fromthat read out from the ink container, ink remaining in the printing drumcan be avoided from being mixed with ink supplied from the ink containerwhen the color information stored in the storage means of the printingdrum is changed.

Further, when the color information read out from the storage means ofthe ink container is stored in the storage means of the printing drumand supplying ink to the printing drum is automatically startedthereafter after the ink exhaustion is finished, the labor of theoperator to input a signal which instructs to start supplying ink to theprinting drum can be saved.

Further, when the color information read out from the storage means ofthe ink container is stored in the storage means of the printing drum inthe case where it is detected that no ink exists in the printing drumand it is confirmed that no color information has been yet stored in thestorage means of the printing drum, it can be avoided to set colorinformation in the storage means of a printing drum by mistaking theprinting drum for a unused one even if, for instance, the storage ofcolor information in the storage means of the printing drum is notcorrectly carried out.

Further, when an abnormality alarm is given in the case where it isdetected that ink exists in the printing drum and it is confirmed thatno color information has been yet stored in the storage means of theprinting drum, the operator can recognize that the storage of colorinformation in the storage means of the printing drum has not beencorrectly carried out, the color information has not been correctly readout from the storage means of the printing drum, or the ink sensor doesnot correctly operate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing in brief a stencil printer for carrying out theprinting method in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention,

FIG. 2 is a view showing in brief a part of the stencil printer shown inFIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a view showing the printing drum and the ink container of thestencil printer shown in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a view showing in brief a part of the stencil printer inaccordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A stencil printer for carrying out a stencil printing method inaccordance with the present invention and an ink container which is usedfor carrying out a stencil printing method in accordance with thepresent invention will be described, hereinbelow, with reference to thedrawings. FIG. 1 is a view showing in brief the stencil printer.

As shown in FIG. 1, the stencil printer 1 comprises an image readingportion 15 which reads out an image on an original, a stencil makingportion 20 which makes a stencil from stencil material M on the basis ofthe image information read by the image reading portion 15, a printingportion 30 which prints on a printing paper by the use of the stencilmade by the stencil making portion 20, a paper supply portion 40 whichsupplies the printing paper to the printing portion 30, a paperdischarge portion 50 which discharges the printed printing paper fromthe printing portion 30, and a stencil discharge portion 60 whichdischarges the stencil after use.

The image read-out portion 15 is an image scanner and comprises an imageline sensor 12 which reads out an image on an original conveyed in asub-scanning direction, and original feed rollers 14.

The stencil making portion 20 comprises a stencil material roll portion21, a stencil making unit 22 having a thermal head where a plurality ofheater elements are arranged in a row, stencil material feed rollers 23and 24, stencil material guide rollers 25, 26 and 27, and a stencilcutter 28.

The printing portion 30 comprises a cylindrical ink-transmittableprinting drum 31 which is formed of a porous metal plate or a meshstructure, an ink supply system 34 having a squeegee roller 32 and adoctor roller 33 and an ink supply pump 35 (FIG. 2) which are disposedinside the printing drum 31, and a press roller 36. The stencil is woundaround outer periphery of the printing drum 31.

The printing drum 31 is provided, as shown in FIG. 2, with a storagemeans 8 which stores predetermined information. The storage means 8comprises a memory IC 81 forming a non-volatile memory (e.g., an EEPROM)which can hold data for a predetermined time without power supply, and acontact 83 is provided on the tip of a board 82 on which the memory IC81 is mounted. The storage means 8 is disposed in a support membermounted for rotation with respect to the printing drum 31.

The ink container 10 in which ink to be used in the printing portion 30is provided at its leading end with an opening 11 through which the inkis discharged as shown in FIG. 2. The opening 11 is connected to an inksupply pump 35 disposed inside the printing drum 31. The ink container10 is provided at its leading end portion with a storage means 9 whichstores predetermined information. The storage means 9 comprises a memoryIC 91 forming a non-volatile memory (e.g., an EEPROM) which can holddata for a predetermined time without power supply, and a contact 93 isprovided on the tip of a board 92 on which the memory IC 91 is mounted.Color information representing the kind of color of the ink filled inthe ink container is stored in the memory IC 91 of the storage means 9.The color information to be stored in the memory IC 91 may be, forinstance, values of the coordinates of a LAB color specification systemor a XYZ color specification system.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ink container 10 and the printing drum 31 areschematically shown for the purpose of description, and the inkcontainer 10 is moved back and forth in the direction of arrow A at thecenter of one end of the printing drum 31 and removably installed in theprinting drum 31 by moving the fixing member 37 in the direction ofarrow B. Further, the printing drum 31 is also removable.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the stencil printer body 2 is provided witha color information setting means 65 which reads out the colorinformation stored in the storage means 9 of the ink container 10 andstores the same in the storage means 8 of the printing drum 31. Aconnector 94 which is to be electrically connected to the contact 93 ofthe storage means 9 of the ink container 10 and a connector 84 which isto be electrically connected to the contact 83 of the storage means 8 ofthe printing drum 31 are connected to the color information settingmeans 65.

The paper supply portion 40 comprises a paper supply table 41 on whichprinting papers P are stacked, a pair of pick-up rollers 42 which takeout the printing papers P one by one from the paper supply table 41, anda pair of timing rollers 43 which sends a printing paper P between theprinting drum 31 and the press roller 36.

The paper discharge portion 50 comprises a separator 51 which peels offprinting paper P from the printing drum 31, a paper discharge beltportion 52, and a paper discharge table 53 on which the printed printingpapers P are stacked.

The stencil discharge portion 60 comprises a stencil discharge box 61which is disposed on one side of the printing portion 30 and in whichthe stencil peeled off the printing drum 31 is placed, and a pair ofstencil discharge rollers 62 which peel the stencil off the printingdrum 31 after use and convey the stencil peeled off the printing drum 31into the stencil discharge box 61.

As shown in FIG. 2, the stencil printer body 2 further comprises adisplay means 66 which displays a message, when the color informationread out from the storage means 9 of the ink container 10 differs fromthat stored in the storage means 8 of the printing drum 31, representingthe fact, and a printing inhibition control means 67 which inhibitsstencil printing in the above-mentioned case. The display means 66 is atouch panel which is formed by a liquid crystal panel and can be used toinput a predetermined signal.

Operation of the stencil printer of this embodiment will be described,hereinbelow.

An unused printing drum 31 is installed in the printing portion 30 ofthe stencil printer body 2 and the contact 83 of the storage means 8 ofthe printing drum 31 is connected to the connector 84. Thereafter, anink container 10 is installed in the ink supply pump 35 of the inksupply system 34, and the contact 93 of the storage means 9 of the inkcontainer 10 is connected to the connector 94.

The color information setting means 65 first reads out the colorinformation from the storage means 9 of the ink container 10 and thenconfirms whether the color information has been already stored in thestorage means 8 of the printing drum 31 and outputs the colorinformation read out from the storage means 9 of the ink container 10 tothe storage means 8 of the printing drum 31 by way of the connector 84and the contact 83 to store the same when it is confirmed that no colorinformation has been yet stored in the storage means 8 of the printingdrum 31. By causing the storage means 8 of the printing drum 31 to storethe color information of the ink container 10, that the printing drum 31is to be used with ink of a color corresponding to the color informationcan be set in the printing drum 31.

Whereas a stencil material roll is installed on the master holder andthe stencil material M is unrolled from the stencil material roll in alength corresponding to one stencil which has been set in advance. Thestencil material M unrolled from the stencil material roll is thermallyperforated in the stencil making portion 20 by selectively energizingthe heater elements of the thermal head 22 and is cut by the stencilcutter 28 into a stencil. Then the stencil is wound around the printingdrum 31.

After the color information is stored in the storage means 8 of theprinting drum 31 in the manner described above, ink the color of whichcorresponds to the color information stored in the storage means 9 ofthe ink container 10 and the storage means 8 of the printing drum 31 isautomatically supplied inside the printing drum 31 by the ink supplysystem 34.

As the printing drum 31 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction asseen in FIG. 1, a printing paper P is moved left to right as seen inFIG. 1 by timing rollers 43 to be supplied between the printing drum 31and the press roller 36 at a predetermined timing in synchronizationwith the rotation of the printing drum 31. The printing paper P issubsequently pressed by the press roller 36 against the stencil M on theouter peripheral surface of the printing drum 31, whereby the printingpaper P is printed with the ink in the color described above.

For example, when the ink in the ink container 10 is exhausted and a newink container 10 is installed after the stencil printing is carried outas described above, the color information setting means 65 again readsout the color information from the storage means 9 of the ink container10 and then confirms whether the color information has been alreadystored in the storage means 8 of the printing drum 31. When the colorinformation has been already stored in the storage means 8 of theprinting drum 31, the color information setting means 65 reads out thecolor information from the storage means 8 of the printing drum 31 andconfirms whether it conforms to the color information reads out from thestorage means 9 of the new ink container 10. When the former conforms tothe latter, the stencil printing is continued in the same manner asdescribed above. However, when the former does not conform to thelatter, the color information setting means 65 causes the display means66 to display a message representing the fact. The display means 66displays together with the message a resetting button which permitsselection whether the color information stored in the storage means 8 ofthe printing drum 31 is to be overwritten by the color informationstored in the storage means 9 of the newly installed ink container 10.Further, the color information setting means 65 outputs to the printinginhibition control means 67 that the pieces of color information doesnot conform to each other and the printing inhibition control means 67controls the system so that the stencil printing cannot be continued.When the operator selects the resetting button to overwrite the colorinformation, the color information setting means 65 outputs the colorinformation read out from the storage means 9 of the ink container 10 tothe storage means 8 of the printing drum 31 to overwrite the colorinformation and at the same time, outputs to the printing inhibitioncontrol means 67 a signal which instructs release of the printinginhibition so that the printing inhibition by the printing inhibitioncontrol means 67 is released and the stencil printing is continued inthe same manner as described above. Whereas when the operator selectsthe resetting button not to overwrite the color information, the colorinformation setting means 65 does not output the color information readout from the storage means 9 of the ink container 10 and the printinginhibition is held until an ink container 10 whose color corresponds tothe color information stored in the storage means 8 of the printing drum31 is installed or the operator selects and pushes the resetting buttonto overwrite the color information.

Though, in the embodiment described above, when the color informationstored in storage means 9 of the ink container 10 differs from thatstored in storage means 8 of the printing drum 31 and the operatorselects the resetting button to overwrite the color information, thecolor information is overwritten and the stencil printing is continued,ink exhaustion may be carried out before resumption of the stencilprinting. The “ink exhaustion” is an action to rotate the printing drum31 without operation of the ink supply pump 35 so that no ink remains inthe printing drum 31.

In the case where the ink exhaustion is carried out, for instance, thecolor information is stored in the storage means 8 of the printing drum31 after the ink exhaustion and then the ink supply pump 35 isautomatically operated to start supply of ink. The end of the inkexhaustion may be instructed by a signal input by a predetermined inputmeans by the operator or the ink exhaustion may be carried out for apredetermined time which has been set in advance.

In this embodiment, it is possible to temporarily store ink, forinstance, in an ink fountain 3 between the squeegee roller 32 and thedoctor roller 33 as shown in FIG. 4 and detect the ink stored in the inkfountain 3 by an ink sensor 40 so that the color information settingmeans 65 outputs the color information read out from the storage means 9of the ink container 10 to the storage means 8 of the printing drum 31when it is confirmed that no color information has been yet stored inthe storage means 8 of the printing drum 31 by the color informationsetting means 65 and it is detected that no ink exists in the printingdrum 31 by the ink sensor 40. By this, since the color information isstored in the printing drum 31 after it is confirmed whether ink existsin the printing drum 31, it can be avoided to set color information inthe storage means 8 of a printing drum 31 by mistaking the printing drum31 for a unused one or to supply ink of a different color to theprinting drum 31 even in the case where, for instance, the data of thecolor information stored in the storage means 8 of the printing drum 31is destroyed or the color information has not been correctly stored inthe storage means 8 of the printing drum 31 by accident.

Further, it is possible to cause, when that ink exists in the printingdrum 31 is detected by the ink sensor 40 and that the color informationstored in the storage means 8 of the printing drum 31 is not confirmedby the color information setting means 65, the display means 66 todisplay a message representing the fact. By causing the display means 66to display the message, the operator can recognize an abnormality thatthe color information has not been correctly read out from the storagemeans 8 of the printing drum 31, or the ink sensor 40 does not correctlyoperate.

1. A stencil printing system comprising, in a system where an inkcontainer which is filled with ink of one of a plurality of kinds ofcolors and provided with a storage means having a memory in which colorinformation representing the kind of the color of the ink in the inkcontainer is stored, and a printing drum provided with a storage meansin which predetermined information is stored are installed in a body ofa stencil printer, and the ink in the ink container is supplied to theprinting drum to carry out stencil printing, a color information settingmeans which, when an ink container and/or a printing drum is installed,reads out the color information stored in the storage means of the inkcontainer and stores the color information in the storage means of theprinting drum, wherein the color information setting means confirmswhether the color information has been already stored in the storagemeans of the printing drum, and stores the color information read out ofthe storage means of the ink container in the storage means of theprinting drum when it is confirmed by the color information settingmeans that no color information has been yet stored in the storage meansof the printing drum.
 2. A stencil printing system as defined in claim 1further comprising an alarm means which gives an alarm when it isconfirmed by the color information setting means that color informationhas been already stored in the storage means of the printing drum andthe stored color information differs from that read out from the inkcontainer.
 3. A stencil printing system as defined in claim 1 furthercomprising a reset signal input means which inputs a signal instructingwhether the color information read out from the storage means of the inkcontainer is to be stored in the storage means of the printing drum whenit is confirmed that color information has been already stored in thestorage means of the printing drum and the stored color informationdiffers from that read out from the ink container, wherein the colorinformation setting means stores the color information read out from thestorage means of the ink container in the storage means of the printingdrum upon input of the signal by the reset signal input means.
 4. Astencil printing system as defined in claim 1 further comprising an inksupply control means which outputs an ink supply start signal toautomatically start supplying ink to the printing drum after the colorinformation stored in the storage means of the ink container is storedin the storage means of the printing drum by the color informationsetting means.
 5. A stencil printing system as defined in claim 1further comprising an ink exhaustion control means which outputs an inkexhaustion control signal to make ink exhaustion, where the printingdrum is rotated without supply of ink to the printing drum, when it isconfirmed that color information has been already stored in the storagemeans of the printing drum and the stored color information differs fromthat read out from the ink container.
 6. A stencil printing system asdefined in claim 5 in which the color information setting means storesthe color information read out from the storage means of the inkcontainer in the storage means of the printing drum after the inkexhaustion is finished and the stencil printing system furthercomprising an ink supply control system which automatically startssupplying ink to the printing drum after the color information read outfrom the storage means of the ink container is stored in the storagemeans of the printing drum by the color information setting means.
 7. Astencil printing system as defined in claim 1 further comprising an inkdetecting means which detects whether there is ink in the printing drum,wherein the color information setting means stores the color informationread out from the storage means of the ink container in the storagemeans of the printing drum when it is detected that no ink exists in theprinting drum by the ink detecting means and it is confirmed that nocolor information has been yet stored in the storage means of theprinting drum by the color information setting means.
 8. A stencilprinting system as defined in claim 1 further comprising an inkdetecting means which detects whether there is ink in the printing drumand an abnormality alarm means which gives an abnormality alarm when itis detected that ink exists in the printing drum by the ink detectingmeans and it is confirmed that no color information has been yet storedin the storage means of the printing drum by the color informationsetting means.